Sevilla’s European ambitions suffer big blow at Getafe

Getafe’s Miguel Torres, right, battles for the ball with Sevilla’s Alvaro Negredo in their La Liga match at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez in Getafe, on the outskirts of Madrid, Spain, on Monday.

Photo: EPA

Sevilla’s hopes of a place in European competition next season suffered a big blow when they let slip a one-goal lead to lose 5-1 at Getafe in La Liga on Monday.

Coach Jose Miguel Gonzalez, known as Michel, had overseen Sevilla win four of their past five matches to close to within a point of sixth place and the Europa League slots, and they took the lead at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez with a stunning strike from Alvaro Negredo in the 19th minute.

However, Getafe’s Pedros Rios engineered a turnaround, having a hand in four of Getafe’s five goals, scoring one himself and laying on two for Miku and one for Miguel Torres.

Sevilla slipped down to ninth on 45 points, level with Athletic Bilbao, Atletico Madrid, RCD Espanyol and Getafe, who are 11th.

Sevilla looked to be cruising when Spain striker Negredo scored a spectacular overhead-kick, but they eased off and Torres volleyed Getafe level from a Rios corner in the 35th minute.

Medhi Lacen fired Getafe in front from outside the area in the 49th minute and winger Rios then carved Sevilla apart.

The 30-year-old set up Miku after a mazy run, headed the fourth and played Miku through for the fifth.